Spica vs. Webers - from R&T in 1973

[Janice & Steve Ashby <sjash@domain.elided>]

I picked up a copy of the April 1973 R&T the other day.  It has road tests
of the Milano (why I picked it up) and Alfetta Sport Sedan and also this
tidbit in the Miscellaneous Ramblings column:

<Quote on>

Alfa's Injection

When it comes to tailoring an engine for the unique U.S. market, Alfa Romeo
goes to greater lengths than most.  The 2-liter models sold here use a
mechanical fuel-injection system made by Spica, an Alfa subsidiary, whereas
the 2-liters sold elsewhere come only with carburetors.  Apparently Spica
doesn't have the production capacity to supply the unit to the rest of the
world, so we have an exclusive on it (though all Montreals have it). Spica
makes other components for Alfa: Sparkplugs, steering boxes, axles,
driveshafts, valve guides, water pumps and shock absorbers for example.  

This is one of the rare cases in which the U.S. version of the engine is
probably more desirable than the home version.  Our Alfa 2000 engine
produces just as much power as the carbureted one, meets U.S. emission
limits and is a thoroughly drivable engine.

<Quote off>

Thought a contemporaneous opinion would be interesting to the debate.

Steve Ashby
74 GTV 2000 (Webers)
75 Spider (Spica)
Denver CO

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